A Child Named: “Emancipation Proclamation Coggeshall.”

There once was a female child who wasn’t properly named until she was two-and-a half-years old, according to the book Colonel Coggeshall: The Man Who Saved Lincoln by Freda Postle Koch. Her father Colonel William Coggeshall, served as a bodyguard to Lincoln on his journey to Washington in 1861. According to the book, Coggeshall saved Lincoln’s life while de-boarding a train by hurling a hand-grenade out an open window where it then exploded. The explosive had, apparently, been meant to do Lincoln harm-but quick thinking by Coggeshall saved the day.

In late 1862, Coggeshall was blessed with his sixth child-a daughter. He had determined that he would not name the baby until Richmond fell. He felt that her name would indicate the spirit of the times. He had a name in mind, but he didn’t reveal it to anyone. Then in April of 1865, Richmond was in Union hands. The book relates the following:

“…the Coggeshall family and baby had moved back to Columbus where Coggeshall, now publisher of the Ohio State Journal, lay ill in bed. Late in the evening, five-year-old Hattie rushed to her father’s bedside and breathlessly announced, “Pa, they’re putting upflags downtown.” “You know what it means?” Coggeshall rejoiced, “Grant has whipped Lee!”

Perspiration broke out all over him. “I am too weak to halloo but not to appreciate the situation. Now, Richmond is ours. Down goes gold and other things.”

“In less than an hour, Coggeshall called the family to his bedside and announced the formal name for his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter…He had named her…